Room structure and panel assembly

ABSTRACT

A partition assembly of structural members arranged to form a framework, and panels overlying that framework to form the partition facing. The assembly is adapted for quick assembly and disassembly, with the framework members being assembled to each other by releasable clamp means, and the panels being secured to the framework by separable hook-and-loop fasteners interposed between the panels and the framework.

United States Patent 1191 [111 3,807,112 Perina Apr. 30, 1974 ROOMSTRUCTURE AND PANEL 3,475,810 11/1969 Mates 52/483 x ASSEMBLY 3,550,33812 1970 Satkin et al.. 52 241 2,231,880 2/1941 Buelow 52/280 X Inventor:J p Penna, Huntington, NY 2,063,010 12/1936 Balduf 52/241 x [73]Assignee: American Velcro, Inc., Manchester, 4

NH. Primary Examiner-Price C. Faw, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmPennie &Edmonds [22] F1led: July 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 273,369 [57] ABSTRACTA partition assembly of structural members arranged [52] U.S. Cl.52/241, 52/483 t0 form a framework, and panels ying h fr m 51 1m. (:1E06b 3/64 work to form the Partition g- The assembly is [58] Field ofSearch 52/241, 483, 484, 280, adapted for q ic assembly and i y, i the52/239 framework members being assembled to each other by releasableclamp means, and the panels being secured [56] Referen Cit d to theframework by separable hook-and-loop fasten- UNITED STATES PATENTS ersinterposed between the panels and the framework.

Radek 52/280 X 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ROOM STRUCTURE AND PANELASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates to interior structure and panel arrangements adaptableto quick and convenient installation and removal due to their uniquepre-cut and modular construction. In particular, the invention relatesto forming at least a portion of a relatively portable room within aroom utilizing such a structure and panel assembly.

2. Description of the Prior Art Modern day construction techniquesrequire a maximum of pre-fabrication or structural packaging as opposedto conventional piecemeal fitting by a mechanic. Skilled and unskilledlabor costs in the construction field have far out stripped the cost ofmaterials. Perhaps the greatest disproportion of labor to materialexpense exists in modifying existing structures, as for example, in thecase of finishing or partitioning basements, apartments, offices, atticrooms, business establishments and the like. In many cases suchfacilities are in possession of a tenant and the owner is under noobligation to improve the existing structure. Occasionally, the occupantwould prefer to improve the existing structure by extensive repairs, butis discouraged by the 'cost of such repairs.

On the other hand, a property owner is often discouraged against suchextensive repairs which generally involve prohibitive costs. Suchrepairs generally require the removal of older surfaces and structures,and replacement by permanently attached new structures with the additionof suitable finishing materials such as plaster, wall panels and thelike. Where permanent structural property improvements are made, such asby replacing wall, ceiling or floor surfaces with new structures, orpartitioning present structures, the modifications usually do notreadily adapt themselves to subsequent changes of the room decor withoutrequiring additional costly modifications.

While earlier developments include modifying structures which useremovable panels for covering wall, ceiling, or floor surfaces, thosedevelopments lacked the modular and convenient assembly aspects whichcharacterize my structure and panel assembly whereby a person havinglimited skills can obtain structural components and panel members in kitform, pre-cut to the required sizes, and then assemble them within aportion of a building such as a room, thereby substantially improvingthe room by providing at least a portion of a new room within said room.

Separable fasteners such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,717,437and 3,009,235 which are marketed under the registered trademark VELCRObrand hook and loop fasteners by Velcro Corporation, 681 Fifth Avenue,New York, NY. have gained wide acceptance because of the properties ofthe mating hooks and loops which permit their attachment by merelyplacing a surface defined by at least one of upstanding hook and looptype hooking elements in face-to-face relationship with a surfacedefined by complementary hooking elements so that a large number ofhooking elements will engage and resist separation forces parallel tothe interfacial plane of engagement but are readily separable by peelingforces applied substantially normal to this interfacial plane. Thesefastening devices,

which may be woven, knitted or molded, for example, have had wide.application in many fields of art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,475,810 to Matesrelates to a method of separating rigid members which are joinedtogether at an interface by inserting a device between the matingsurfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,696 to Mates utilizes the hook and loopfastener of the VELCRO type to hold a necktie by securing a separablefastener to a clip device. My co-pending application ser. No. 180,669filed Sept. 15, 1971, and assigned to the same assignee as the presentinvention, is a continuation-in-part of my earlier U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 853,657 filed Aug. 28, 1969, now abandoned. Itdiscloses an integral and modular grid arrangement for supporting aseries of modular panels, such as wall or ceiling panels or tiles.

An example of a panel room structure which utilizes a frameworkconsisting of slotted channel members against which panels are held inposition is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,082,314 to Venzie. Other priorart includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,308,083 to Lachman, 1,643,318 to Ruppert,2,910,574 to Attwood. 3,104,834 to Lipscomb, 3,121,977 to Bersudsky,3,207,057 to Brown et al., 3,321,879 to Purdy, 3,305,772 to De Claire etal., and 3,362,122 to Schmitt. While these disclosures relate generallyto surface modifying sructures, panels and the like, they do not providean alternative to the complex structures which require substantial time,skill and expense to install them properly.

It is the purpose of the present invention to disclose a structuralframework and panel arrangement with which at least a portion of anexisting room can be renovated by forming at least a portion of a newroom within said room.

It is a further aspect of this invention to provide a low cost means torenovate and improve at least a portion of an existing room withoutpermanently attaching said improvements to the property.

It is furthermore an aspect of the present invention that the averageperson unskilled in the art may erect the disclosed structure and panelarrangement within a room in a short period of time and with ease.

It is also an aspect of this invention that a person of limited skillsmay renovate a portion of a building structure in his possession, suchas a room within the building structure, by erecting a structure withinsaid room and releasably attaching panel members to the structure andfurther permitting removal of the structure and panel members when theproperty is vacated.

It is another aspect of this invention to provide a structural frameworkwith removable decorative panel members to form at least a portion of aroom within an existing room whereby said panel members may be quicklyremoved and replaced with panel members having different decorativedesigns to thereby effect a variety of room decorations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An assembly including at least two of walls,ceiling, and floors which form at least a portion of a new room withinan existing room. The existing room may comprise a portion of a buildingstructure. The assembly may comprise at least two portions of a roomsuch as two walls, two walls and one floor etc.; however, it ispreferred that it comprises an entire new room within an existing room.The elongated structural members are releasably connected to each otherto form a framework which substantially defines the configuration of thenew room. At least one modular panel member is held in position againstthe structural framework by at least one separable fastening devicewherein one member of said fastening device is attached to thestructural framework and a mating member is attached to the panel membersuch that the panel member may be releasably attached to the framework.

The framework substantially defines the basic configuration of the newroom, or portion thereof, within the existing room. In a preferred forma flange member is positioned at the outward portion of at least one ofsaid structural members. The flange member has a forward surface portionsubstantially facing the central portion of the new room and a rearwardsurface portion. substantially facing rearwardly toward correspondingsurface portions of the existing room and is positioned along an outwardportion of the elongated structural member. At least one modular panelmember having outward and rearward surface portions is positionedagainst the framework such that the rearward surface portion of thepanel member faces substantially rearwardly toward the forward surfaceof at least one flange member of at least one of the structural membersof the framework. The panel member is held in position by at least oneseparable fastening device preferably of the hook and loop type, onemember of said fastening device being attached to the forward surfaceportion of the flange member and a mating member attached to acorresponding rearward portion of the panel mementire new room withinthe original room, or at least a portion of a new room within saidexisting room. Thus ber. The fastening members are releasably attachedto each other in face-to-face relation thereby securing the panel inposition against the structural framework and facilitating convenientdetachability of the panel member from said framework.

The panel members may actually be held in position by any suitableseparable fastening devices such as those having engaging elements otherthan hooks and loops, or even those having adhesive surfaces. However,in the preferred embodiment it is intended that separable hook and/orloop type fastener means such as are described in US Pat. 'Nos.2,717,437 and 3,009,235 are used to releasably secure the panel memberin position. Such fastening devices have particular utility forretaining the panel members of the present invention in position suchthat a person of limited skills may remove or replace them. In thepreferred embodiment such separable fastening devices are located at thecorners of the panel member and intermediate corners; however, inpractice it will be found that such fastening devices as willsufficiently secure the panel member in position will be determined bythe require-v ments in each case.

In another embodiment the structural members are provided in pre-cutsizes in kit form so that they may be assembled within a room of abuilding structure and held in contact with one another by clampingdevices which are hidden from -view. One member of a separable hookand/or loop type fastening device is held in position on the flanges ofthe structural members by a clip to which it may be attached such as byadhesive bonding. A corresponding member is attached to thecorresponding rear portion of a panel member by any suitable meansincluding pressure sensitive adhesive. The panel members are therebyreleasably attached to at least a combination of either two walls,ceiling or floors may be quickly covered and substantially improvedwithout the necessity of extensive alterations and permanent attachmentsto the property are thus avoided. A person having only possession of theproperty may in most cases, remove the structure and panel assembly whenhe vacates the property. The structure and panel assembly may then beadapted for use in another location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view of a portion of aroom formed by connecting elongated structural members together showingthe releasably attached panel members;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a portion of a room which has been improvedusing the structure and panel assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing thepreferred means to secure one member of a separable fastener device tothe flange of the elongated structural member; and 7 FIG. 4 is aperspective view of atypical three-way connection of the elongatedstructural members in the preferred embodiment.

In the following description, outward means toward the central portionof the new room and rearward means toward the surface portions of theexisting room.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings,there is shown in FIG. 1 a portion 10 of a room which is formed withinan existing room 11 by connecting the elongated structural members 12with connecting clamps 14. The clamps 14 are preferably of theadjustable type in which the dimension between the clamping members maybe adjusted as shown in greater detail in .FIG. 4. Screws 16 are ad-'justed by turning them either clockwise or counterclockwise to grip orrelease the rearward flange 18 of the elongated structural member 12. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the elongated structural member 12 is aU-shaped lightweight aluminum alloy channel having a side member 9extending from the rearward portion 15 toward the central portion of thenew room and including the outward portion 13 of the side member 9. Therearward portion 13 is spaced apart from the corresponding surfaceportions of the existing room 1 1. The forward flange members 17 arepositioned along the outward portion 13 of the side member 9. The flangemembers are used to position the hook and/or loop member 20 of aseparable fastening device by attaching it to the forward surface 23 asis shown in FIG. 3. The mating member 22 of the fastening device 19 isheld in position to a corresponding rearward surface portion of a panelmember 24 by a suitable means such as pressure sensitive adhesive 26.The rearward surface portion 25 of the panel member 24 thus faces theoutward surface portion 23 of the flange member 17.

The hook and loop typefastening device is shown in FIG. 3 whereby amember of upstanding hook and loop type engaging elements is attached tothe outward flange member 23 of the elongated structural member 12 by aresilient plastic clip 21 having a space between its two grippingportions less than the thickness ofthe flange member such that theresilient material facilitates resilient gripping attachment of the clipto secure it in position on the flange.

A particular advantage of my invention is illustrated in FIG. 2 whichshows a portion of an existing room 28 which may be part of a buildingstructure (not shown). The walls 30 of the existing room 28 as shown arein need of repair and also have their appearance marred by externalconduits such as water or heating pipes 32, for example, or byprotrusions 34; According to my invention, a room having suchdistractive features can be quickly improved by a person of limitedskills. The elongated structural members 12 may be obtained in kit formhaving pre-cut sizes predetermined to fit a particular room, or they maybe cut to the proper size on site.

In addition, a portion of a new room may be arranged to function as adual surfacedpartition which divides an existing room into severalsections. In such an application, at least one portion of the structuralassembly may have panel members releasably attached to the flangemembers on the rearward as well as the outward portions of the elongatedstructural members. An example showing the utilization of panel membersin such manner is shown in FIG. 1 whereby panel member 24' is attachedto the rearward flanges 18 of the elongated U-shaped structural membersby separable fastening devices similar to those previously described.

The panel members 24 may be conveniently removed for cleaning,replacement and the like. In some installations such as in businessestablishments, it may be desirable from time to time to replace panelmembers having a particular decorative pattern by another. set of panelmembers having a varied decorative pattern or colors. In such casespanel members may be stored for periodic use. The replacement of thepanel members can be quickly completed It will be understood that theforegoing description is of preferred embodiment of the invention and istherefore merely representative. In order to appreciate more fully thespirit and scope of the invention, reference should be made to theappended claims.

I claim:

1. An assembly including at least two of walls, ceilings and floorswhich form at least a portion of a new room within an existing roomcomprising:

a. elongated structural members positioned with respect to each other toform a structural framework which substantially defines theconfiguration of the portion of the new room, each structural memberhaving a backing member and at least one flange member connected to thebacking member and extending outwardly therefrom;

b. clamping means for releasably securing adjacent portions of theflange members so as to releasably secure the structural member togetherto form said framework, said clamping means having means for grippingsaid flange members with means for releasably tightening the grip ofsaid clamping means so as to facilitate quick assembly and disassemblyof said framework;

c. at least one modular panel member having a forward surface portionand a rearward surface portion positioned against the structuralframework and d. at least one separable hook and loop-type fasteningdevice positioned between at least one structural member and said panelmember, one member of the separable fastening device secured to thestructural member, and the corresponding mating fastening member securedto the rearward surface portion of said panel member such that saidpanel member is releasably attached to said framework with the hook andloop-type fastening members in face-to-face engagement and said panelmembers may be detached from said framework by peeling the separablefastening members apart thereby providing improved, readily-detachablesurface portions of said new room within said existing room.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said elongatedstructural members comprises:

a. a side member defined by an extension having a first rearward portionspaced apart from a corresponding surface portion of the existing roomand extending outwardly toward the central portion of thenew room; and

b. a flange member positioned along the outward portion of at least oneof the elongated structural members, said flange member having anoutward surface portion substantially facing toward the central portionof the new room and a rearward surface portion substantially facingrearwardly toward corresponding portions of the existing room.

3. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein:

a. said elongated structural members comprise lightweight aluminumchannel members having a substantially U-shaped cross section withoutward and rearward flange members, the outward flange memberpositioned along the outward portion of the side member and having anoutward surface portion substantially facing toward the central portionof the new room and a rearward surface portion substantially facingrearwardly toward the corresponding portion of the existing room;

b. each of. said modular panel members having an outward surface portionfacing the central portion of the new room and a rearward surfaceportion facing the outward surface portion of the flange member; and

c. the separable fastening device beingpositioned between an outwardsurface portion of the outward flange member and the rearward surfaceportion of the modular panel member, one member of the separablefastening device being attached to the outward surface portion of saidflange member and a mating member attached to a corresponding rearwardportion of said panel member, to releasably attach said panel member tosaid structural framework.

4. The assembly according to claim 3 wherein said engaging elementscomprise hooks and loops.

5. The assembly according to claim 4 wherein a resilient clip attachmentdevice having spaced apart gripping portions and having hook and looptype fastening means on its outward surface is attached to at least oneoutward flange member of said structural members by resilient grippingaction to provide a cooperating hook and loop fastening type member onthe outward surface of said flange member.

6. The assembly according to claim 5 wherein said separable fasteningmembers are attached to the rearward flange members of at least one ofsaid U-shaped channel member and at least one panel member havingcorresponding mating members on its rearward surface is positionedagainst said rearward flange member thereby permitting at least aportion of said assembly to be used as a dual surfaced room partition.

7. An assembly including at least two of walls, ceilings and floorswhich form at least a portion of a new room within an existing room in abuilding structure comprising in combination:

a. elongated U-shaped channel members positioned with respect to eachother to form a structural framework which substantially defines theconfiguration of said new room, said channel members each having abacking member spaced apart from a corresponding surface portion of theexisting room and extending outwardly toward the central portion of saidnew room;

b. flange members positioned along the backing member of each of saidchannel members and extending outwardly therefrom, said flange membershaving a forward surface portion substantially facing the centralportion of the new room and a rearward surface portion substantiallyfacing rearwardly toward corresponding portions of the existing room;

c. clamping means for releasably securing adjacent portions of theflange members together so as to releasably secure the structuralmembers together to form said framework, said clamping means having ananvil-type backing member and a threaded releasable tightening meansthreadedly positioned within said clamping means for releasably grippingsaid flange members so as to facilitate quick assembly and disassemblyof said framework;

(1. at least one modular panel member having rearward surface portionspositioned against the structural framework; and

e. at least one hook and loop-type separable fastening device positionedbetween at least one structural member and said panel member, one memberof said fastening device being adhesively secured to the forward surfaceof at least one flange member, and a mating member of said separablefastening device being adhesively secured to a corresponding rearwardsurface portion of said panel member, said fastening members beingreleasably secured to each other in face-to-face relation so as toreleasably secure said panel member in position against saidframework,vsaid panel member thereby being separable from said frameworkby forces which result in peeling said separable fastening membersapart, thereby facilitating convenient attachability and detachabilityof said panel members with respect to said framework.

1. An assembly including at least two of walls, ceilings and floorswhich form at least a portion of a new room within an existing roomcomprising: a. elongated structural members positioned with respect toeach other to form a structural framework which substantially definesthe configuration of the portion of the new room, each structural memberhaving a backing member and at least one flange member connected to thebacking member and extending outwardly therefrom; b. clamping means forreleasably securing adjacent portions of the flange members so as toreleasably secure the structural member together to form said framework,said clamping means having means for gripping said flange members withmeans for releasably tightening the grip of said clamping means so as tofacilitate quick assembly and disassembly of said framework; c. at leastone modular panel member having a forward surface portion and a rearwardsurface portion positioned against the structural framework and d. atleast one separable hook and loop-type fastening device positionedbetween at least one structural member and said panel member, one memberof the separable fastening device secured to the structural member, andthe corresponding mating fastening member secured to the rearwardsurface portion of said panel member such that said panel member isreleasably attached to said framework with the hook and loop-typefastening members in face-to-face engagement and said panel members maybe detached from said framework by peeling the separable fasteningmembers apart thereby providing improved, readily-detachable surfaceportions of said new room within said existing room.
 2. The assemblyaccording to claim 1 wherein each of said elongated structural memberscomprises: a. a side member defined by an extension having a firstrearward portion spaced apart from a corresponding surface portion ofthe existing room and extending outwardly toward the central portion ofthe new room; and b. a flange member positioned along the outwardportion of at least one of the elongated structural members, said flangemember having an outward surface portion substantially facing toward thecentral portion of the new room and a rearward surface portionsubstantially facing rearwardly toward corresponding portions of theexisting room.
 3. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein: a. saidelongated structural members comprise lightweight aluminum channelmembers having a substantially U-shaped cross section with outward andrearward flange members, the outward flange member positioned along theoutward portion of the side member and having an outward surface portionsubstantially facing toward the central portion of the new room and arearward surface portion substantially facing rearwardly toward thecorresponding portion of the existing room; b. each of said modularpanel members having an outward surface portion facing the centralportion of the new room and a rearward surface portion facing theoutward surface portion of the flange member; and c. the separablefastening device being positioned between an outward surface portion ofthe outward flange member and the rearward surface portion of themodular panel member, one member of the separable fastening device beingattached to the outward surFace portion of said flange member and amating member attached to a corresponding rearward portion of said panelmember, to releasably attach said panel member to said structuralframework.
 4. The assembly according to claim 3 wherein said engagingelements comprise hooks and loops.
 5. The assembly according to claim 4wherein a resilient clip attachment device having spaced apart grippingportions and having hook and loop type fastening means on its outwardsurface is attached to at least one outward flange member of saidstructural members by resilient gripping action to provide a cooperatinghook and loop fastening type member on the outward surface of saidflange member.
 6. The assembly according to claim 5 wherein saidseparable fastening members are attached to the rearward flange membersof at least one of said U-shaped channel member and at least one panelmember having corresponding mating members on its rearward surface ispositioned against said rearward flange member thereby permitting atleast a portion of said assembly to be used as a dual surfaced roompartition.
 7. An assembly including at least two of walls, ceilings andfloors which form at least a portion of a new room within an existingroom in a building structure comprising in combination: a. elongatedU-shaped channel members positioned with respect to each other to form astructural framework which substantially defines the configuration ofsaid new room, said channel members each having a backing member spacedapart from a corresponding surface portion of the existing room andextending outwardly toward the central portion of said new room; b.flange members positioned along the backing member of each of saidchannel members and extending outwardly therefrom, said flange membershaving a forward surface portion substantially facing the centralportion of the new room and a rearward surface portion substantiallyfacing rearwardly toward corresponding portions of the existing room; c.clamping means for releasably securing adjacent portions of the flangemembers together so as to releasably secure the structural memberstogether to form said framework, said clamping means having ananvil-type backing member and a threaded releasable tightening meansthreadedly positioned within said clamping means for releasably grippingsaid flange members so as to facilitate quick assembly and disassemblyof said framework; d. at least one modular panel member having rearwardsurface portions positioned against the structural framework; and e. atleast one hook and loop-type separable fastening device positionedbetween at least one structural member and said panel member, one memberof said fastening device being adhesively secured to the forward surfaceof at least one flange member, and a mating member of said separablefastening device being adhesively secured to a corresponding rearwardsurface portion of said panel member, said fastening members beingreleasably secured to each other in face-to-face relation so as toreleasably secure said panel member in position against said framework,said panel member thereby being separable from said framework by forceswhich result in peeling said separable fastening members apart, therebyfacilitating convenient attachability and detachability of said panelmembers with respect to said framework.